A Colorado dentist accused of murdering his wife by poisoning her protein shake has been charged with plotting to kill an Aurora police detective who investigated the case. James Craig, 45, faces two additional felony charges, including solicitation to commit first-degree murder, according to a court filing.
The new charges stem from Craig’s alleged attempt to convince a fellow inmate to commit the murder. The intended target was confirmed by Aurora police to be one of the detectives who investigated the case, but the detective’s identity has not been disclosed.
Craig previously entered not guilty pleas to first-degree murder and other charges in the death of his wife, Angela Craig, 43. She died in March 2023 after complaining of severe headaches and dizziness, and was declared medically brain dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
The investigation into Angela’s death revealed that James Craig had made multiple searches on his work computer for “undetectable poisons” and “how many grams of pure arsenic will kill a human” in the weeks leading up to her fatal illness. A package of arsenic was delivered to the couple’s home just days before her hospital visit.
Craig’s former attorney, Harvey Steinberg, withdrew from the case last week, citing two rules of professional conduct. The trial has been postponed indefinitely until Craig retains new counsel. Craig’s next court hearing is scheduled for December 16.